I acquired a Cragar adapter for a Flathead Ford Trans to a SBC. I was told I needed a Borg & Beck 988 1949-51 Mercury pressure plate. They seem difficult to find? I came across an add on another website listing a 10" pressure plate which is #1310? It's listed on the add for an International and Mack truck? Seller doesn't know if it will anything else?Kind of looks like a merc pressure plate? What do you guys think? Wanted an opinion before I pull the trigger. Thank you!
The photo credit goes to @hotrodA , the picture was on one of his posts. The number, 1310, in the photo might look odd, but Fort Wayne may have restamped the clutch cover.
Here are some photos of an original Borg&Beck 1949-51 Merc. manual transmission 10 in pressure plate #1310. It looks like someone restamped yours to 1320.
looking at the pic, looks right. If the fingers are too long a bit of grinding will let them work. I HAVE done this in the past. Grind just enough to clear the bearing retainer.
I took a chance and bought the pressure plate that was listed for a Mack or International Harvester. Got it today and it fit perfectly on a 153 tooth flywheel that a buddy gave to me.
This is what how the pressure plate was advertised: Clutch Pressure Plate 1310 10" 1941-1949 IHC Truck 1944-1950 Mack. not sure if it was mislabeled or really fits these other vehicles?
Double check your fit on the bearing retainer/ pp fingers. There is another Merc pp that looks the same, but the fingers are longer for the later, smaller trans input spline. Looks like the original number was 1319, and was scratched out. That was 51-53 Merc with the 1 1/8" input spline. They could have put the short fingers in making it a 1310.
I see the 3 fingers on yours is part # 4079, which is the same as the "19forty" picture he posted of a straight removal of a 1310. Wonder where a guy could find those parts separately. I have a b&b plate, identical to Merc but has wrong "arms". The part # on mine denotes Chrysler I believe.
Thank you for all the pics and info.My pressure plate does look like it was restarted with 1310 and another number scratched off.But my pressure plate measurements match what 19Fordy posted.I should be good!
If there is a rebuilder near your location they may possibly have those fingers available and also they have what’s needed to install them effortlessly.
I am in the middle of sorting out this 1310 fitment for a friend. Anyone got the measurement for the height of the fingers setting on a flat surface (not installed) and the spread of the fingers to allow the large Ford TOB???? I found a Dodge plate that might work but I need to verify some dimensions first before pulling the trigger.
I have been looking for a 1310 , then this came up for sale. 40 ford , drilled flywheel, wilcap adapter. All for less than a 1310. Thanks Josh !
I think that pressure plate is the long B&B unit with the centrifugal weights that provide a bit more clamping pressure when the rpm's are up from what I have read.
For those of you who think or have been told that the 49-51 Merc PP is the same, that information is Wrong. 49-50 is the same. 51 for Merc is a one-year deal. Instead of the 2-piece bellhousing and Early 48 and back style Ford gearbox Henry changed it up to accept the new 49 and up Ford Car trans. That means a 4-bolt gear box, 1 piece bellhousing and the much smaller front bearing retainer accepting the smaller T H bearing collar, thus the shorter 3 fingers on the PP. Then know that the 51 Merc bellhousing is a 1 year only unit being it still uses the 48 and earlier clutch release fork system, not the new standard Fork that enters through the big opening that became standard in Ford Cars. Clear as Mud, right?
I had read more than once that '51 Mercury's used two different pressure plates and clutch discs. Early production used the larger diameter throw out bearing with a transmission that had a small bell housing cast integrally with the trans case and the later cars had the smaller t/o bearing used with the four bolt trans that Ford adopted and used through the '50' and '60's. Edit- here’s a photo that @KRUZIN62 had posted of the early ‘51 Merc transmission.